Home pedicures can be a great way to save a little cash and pamper yourself, but some pedicure tools can be a little intimidating if you’ve never used them before. Fortunately, there’s nothing complicated once you master the basics, and you’ll be able to wield your pedi tools like a pro. The toughest part of your home pedicure will be choosing the right polish.
Pumice Stone
Step 1
Soak your feet in warm water for about five minutes. Add a handful of Epsom salts or sea salts for extra softening power.
Step 2
Wet your pumice stone completely, and rub it lightly with a little body wash or bath soap.
Step 3
Pat your feet dry with a clean towel.
Step 4
Use a gentle, back-and-forth to rub the pumice stone along rough spots, like your heels, toes and the bottoms of your feet, recommends “Women’s Health” magazine.
Step 5
Skip areas where you have blisters, corns or bunions that could be infected, and don’t scrub too hard. Your goal isn’t to remove the callus but to soften it up, explains celebrity nail expert Essie Weingarten in “Marie Claire” magazine.
Nail Clipper and Emery Board
Step 1
Use a straight-edge nail clipper to make three cuts to remove your toenail — making one cut increases the risk that you’ll slice too close to the skin, explains the beauty department at “Real Simple” magazine.
Step 2
Use an emery board to round the nail gently, but don’t try to curve the corners too much or you could end up with ingrown nails, warns Weingarten in “Marie Claire.” Keep the sides of the nail intact so that they can support the nail and keep it strong.
Step 3
File your nails using long, gentle back-and-forth strokes until they are as short as you can comfortably make them.
Step 4
Massage a moisturizing cream into your feet, including your toenails.
Buffing Block
Step 1
Use the gritty side of the block to rub the surface of your toenail gently.
Step 2
Brush the gritty side of the block gently over your toes to soften the skin there, recommends John Gerardo, a nail technician at Spoiled A Day Spa, in Studio City, Calif., in “Real Simple” magazine.
Step 3
Brush the smooth side of the block back and forth across your toes to give them a healthy shine, or paint your nails with clear or pale-colored polish.
Mani-Pedi Tips with Brooke Burke:
